Businesswoman stood up for displaced families

Victor and Thelma Novak were the last holdouts in Pittsburgh's East Street Valley in 1982, among thousands of families displaced by plans to build the Parkway North from the North Side to the North Hills.

Thelma Novak was one of the founders of the Highway Emergency and Relocation Team, which lobbied successfully for legislation to adequately compensate families who had to move for the highway construction project.

“My mother was a devout Catholic; she loved the church,” said daughter Shirley Novak of McCandless. “I think through her religious faith, she had a really strong sense of justice.

“There weren't any laws about coming in and condemning property. If they gave you two cents, that was it.”

Thelma G. Novak of Ross, formerly of the North Side, died on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, in the Vincentian Home in McCandless. She was 91.

Mrs. Novak and her husband owned a home along East Street, along with the nearby Northwestern Packing Co. Beginning in 1970, PennDOT began removing home-owners and businesses through eminent domain for the highway. The Novaks initially were offered about $180,000, but settled in 1981 for nearly $350,000.

“We're not obstructionists. Our problem is that they have never offered us enough money to relocate,” Mrs. Novak insisted in the 1981 story.

The couple moved to Ross and moved their business, known as Vic's Choice Meats, to Hazlett Street.

Mrs. Novak pushed to have the St. Boniface Church placed on the National Historical Landmark Registry in 1981. The church lies along the Parkway North.

Mrs. Novak and her group “were really the leaders in challenging PennDOT about the value of houses,” said former Mayor Tom Murphy. “She was the kind of person who got things done.”

Mrs. Novak was a ward chair for the city's 26th Ward and served as the state vice president for the Democrat Women's Federation.

Along with Shirley Novak, Mrs. Novak is survived by: sons Victor Novak II of Somerset, and Albert Novak of West Mifflin; and daughter Gloria Novak of Observatory Hill. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Victor F. Novak; brothers Joe Phillips, Mike Phillips, Edward Phillips and Ray Phillips; sisters Ruth Prescaro, Eltina Lucidore, Elvira Toscano, and Elia Skinner.

Friends will be received from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in T.B. Devlin Funeral Home, 806 Perry Highway, Ross. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday in Holy Wisdom Parish, St. Boniface Church, 2208 East St., East Street Valley.

Bill Vidonic is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-380-5621 or bvidonic@tribweb.com.